@inproceedings{2836,
  keywords = {Biological samples, Caching sub-systems, Environmental conditions, Mars sample return missions, Martian surface, Sample tube, Sealing technique, Hermetic seals, Microorganisms},
  author = {P. Backes and T. Onstott and Y. Bar-Cohen and M. Badescu and L. Pratt and D. Helmick and S. Sherrit and A. Johnson and X. Bao},
  title = {Planetary sample sealing for caching},
  abstract = {A sample sealing technique was developed and tested for a possible Mars Sample Return mission application. The effect on the scientific viability of biological samples from storage of samples in a sample container for a long period of time on the Martian surface was also investigated. Sealing techniques were investigated and a soldering concept was developed and tested to provide a hermetic seal between a sample tube and cap. A sample caching subsystem design concept was updated to allow for sealing of sample tubes. A gas-tight vessel was constructed that could be used to simulate environmental conditions that would be experienced by a sample of regolith on Mars and to test the affects of thermal cycling of the vessel on psychrophilic microorganisms embedded in a regolith simulant to assess the degree of deterioration of the microorganisms. {\textcopyright}2009 IEEE.},
  year = {2009},
  journal = {IEEE Aerospace Conference Proceedings},
  url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-70349132084\&doi=10.1109\%2fAERO.2009.4839307\&partnerID=40\&md5=a252424dd8df118728ca3850c7687b2e},
  doi = {10.1109/AERO.2009.4839307},
}